2017 Building Diversity Awards: Mark Adams Electric Inc.

Almost every enclosed structure requires electrical wiring and products. With that in mind, the building boom in the Pacific Northwest – and in the Portland area in particular – has afforded ongoing opportunities for Mark Adams as a small, but active electrical contractor.

Adams, a former U.S. Navy Seabee (construction battalion), established his company in 2004 armed with deep experience as a licensed journeyman electrician. The business was beginning to find its footing just as Oregon’s building industry became mired in a recession. Unwilling to give up, Adams realized that by focusing on maintenance and renovation projects, he could keep his firm afloat.

The recession didn’t last, but the reputation for quality and dependability that Adams established did. In the years since the recession ended, his company has grown to 22 employees and has a long list of customers and repeat business.

Bread-and-butter projects like Walgreens, Wendy’s, Zoup!, Mod Pizza, several locations of Sonic and seven locations of Buffalo Wild Wings stand alongside more individualized projects, including a Department of Motor Vehicles location in Gresham; the Mount Hood Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic; and a New Seasons Market.

More recently, Adam’s company handled work for the Oregon Zoo Education Center, which he considers a pivotal project for his business. In addition to showcasing his company’s commitment to its clients – at one point a job foreman came in during his off time in order to be a part of a critical inspection that had to be rescheduled due to snow – the project also helped Adams and his crew expand their skills sets.

“We had challenges on that job that we hadn’t seen before — new technologies and integrated systems that provide interactive experiences for people who visit. For us, it was a real opportunity for growth,” Adams said.

Adams and his staff are active in ways that benefit both the community and the trades.

The company donates money to the math department at Clackamas High School, the Area 1 Electrical JACT for its annual “Wire Off” event, and Veteran’s Assistance at the University of Oregon. Company employees also volunteered time to renovate a basement at Eastridge Church in Clackamas. In addition, Mark Adams Electric is a member of the Independent Electrical Contractors of Oregon and the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) Oregon.